Saturday Dirt Ride
18 Apr 2012
TUMUT 3 HOUR
13 Apr 2012
From our friends at MTB Wagga:
The annual Tumut 3 Hour Enduro which is held as part of the Festival of the Falling Leaf is fast approaching at the end of the month. MTB Wagga assist the Tumut crew with the running of the event and it is one of the most enjoyable, social and fun events on our calendar.
Riders can choose to ride solo or in pairs on the 3 hour course which is 9.5km in length and is on some of the best single track you will ride in the region. Alternatively beginners and kids can ride the 2.5km beginners track over a 90 minute time period.
Entry fees are $15 per rider in the 3 hour, or $10 in the 90 minute beginner event. A day licence for $20 must also be purchased for non MTBA members. Race start is at 12 noon.
Click on the Tumut 3 Hour link; http://tumut.mtbwagga.asn.au/?page_id=3 for course maps, online entry and all of the other details you need to know.
Here’s what that Ed guy said about it last year: http://edridesbikes.wordpress.com/2011/05/03/tumut-3-hour/
Photo by Mullet – Thanks Mullet!
THIS IS SINGLESPEED
1 Apr 2012
COGS had a couple of teams in the Mont, we had a laugh, we had a good time and we went home with memories like this.
We Generally Met
26 Mar 2012
Last night COGS had a general meeting. A huge thanks to Mikey for preparing our financial statements and annual report and to all the fine COGGERS who attended, and those who sent their apologies. Minutes will be posted but here’ s something tasty:
A winter Jungle Cross Race (this is going to be RAD) possibly at Majura if we can get in before it closes. Joel is the ideas man behind this one. On an entirely unrelated aside – does anyone know where we can get an ultra heavy duty jumping castle, for free? And a band?
Also, don’t forget this Wednesday’s AIRYL is a dirt ride at Majura. Meet at Wilbur’s Cafe, Hackett Shops at 6pm.
Stay single
Adam
BEER LEAGUE V
29 Jan 2012
Yesterday, the world’s fifth Beer League was run. A pictorial race report is included below for your education and entertainment.
It was a cracker, and a fine way to welcome a few new members to COGS.
THIS WEEKEND – THE COOPERS OFF-ROAD TIME TRIAL
19 Jan 2012
This Saturday, January 21 is the Coopers Off-Road Time Trial. Brought to you by Bec and Phil, and starting at 10:30am at the Majura Pines dam. The start is marked on this map as start/finish.
Entry: $20 (Covers the coopers), 24 rider limit (members given priority).
Riders will be sent off at 30 second intervals to find their own way to the checkpoints marked on the map linked to above. It will be important to have a look at the map to work out your route (note the easy fire trail option, and the snazzy singletrack).
Once all riders have completed the course we will head to Corroboree Park in Ainslie for a BBQ (bring some cash for eats or BYO. There will be rad vego options).
Check out the facebook event for more info.
Catch you there.
Dear Leader Basiljet
Follow the Dear Leader – A Presidential Account
17 Jan 2012
Last weekend a cassette of singlespeeders gathered to Follow the Dear Leader. Although unsanctioned public gatherings in North Korea are not customary, we did not let such trivialities stop us having a romp around Bruce Ridge in a communistical fashion. No Sir. Joel’s own creation, the Follow the Leader race format, was rad to the power of huffnpuff. Allow me dear COGGERS, to run you through just one of the many 5 minute heats that were ridden.
In what I now believe to be a thinly veiled revenge for making a not altogether positive comment about his Rohloff (Rohloffs are hubs with gears, oil and diamonds in them. They are apparently indexed to the gold price and in times of economic crisis cyclists of the world sell their carbon stocks and invest in what is often just a single Rohloff internally geared investment property. When, on an overnight trip in the Brindies, Joel’s Rohloff internally geared investment property was temporarily allowing coasting either way you turned the pedals, I quipped that it was stuck in neutral) Joel stuck me in the Racer Boys category, rather than the Beer drinkers. So I, the rotund COGS Dear Leader Mr Basiljet, set off in the esteemed company of His Majesty Brett Bellchambers, His Quickness Mr Pill Banks and COGS Hardman of 2011 Phill Byron. This was fine, since rules are for the obedience of fools and the guidance of wise men. Although I am not a wise man, I have memorised that quote and regularly use it to justify breaking laws and customs, like riding into a carpark through the exit, or cutting the point off a wedge of camembert. Anyway, the ride off from the line was great. I was running hard on paper thin bravado, stirring the hornets nest. Either the hornets responded or my faculties of mountain bicycle cycling faltered as by the entry to the singletrack 70m from the start I’d made my way from second position all the way to last (equal to my PB).
I followed the leader from a distance, but I had a move I was ready to pull. A big loop corner with a wallaby track cutting a 40m shortcut approached and I took the shortcut, the lead and the glory. I was the leader, and now the course was mine to set. I dictated the direction, but I knew could not marshal the hardware to hold my own in that show of military force. With the pack now bearing down on me I drew my ace from under the table, called my turn, ‘LEFT’, shouldered my bike and set off uphill on foot into the scrub. Running at my diesel redline for something like 2 minutes had taken its toll. By the time I emerged onto singletrack 30m later I was done. I let the hardmen past and wobbled my way behind again, huffing and puffing with a grin like a madman.
Joel ran a number of heats in each category, phenomenologically tallied the scores and generously awarded prizes from his own treasury to an appreciative and spent bunch of happy riders. We then adjourned to the pub for frosty sports drinks.
This event was a flippin’ blast. Thanks to Joel for conceiving of it, organising and running the show.
Standby for details on the Coopers Off-Road Time Trial this weekend.
Catch you then, or wednesday night at the AIRYL
Dear Leader Basiljet
Mt Clear Overnighter 18-19 February
12 Jan 2012
UPDATE: The Details
This ride is an easy overnighter, with the focus on sleeping rough with your bike rather than riding it. We’ll share some brown liquors around the bush tv, dispense advice and improbable yarns. If you’ve never been camping on your bike before then this is for you. It’s a chance to lash all your kit to your bike and see what falls off. Then you’ll be set for the longer, more epic overnighters we have planned before, and through, winter. Of course if you want to make this epic, you can ride out from Canberra (85km, 1600vm). There are a few people interested in doing this, if you are too and would like some company check the facebook group or email canberraonegear@gmail.com and I’ll put you in touch with them.
When and where:
Meet at the Kingston Hotel, 1:00pm Saturday 18 February. We’ll leave (at 1:30) by car for Mt Clear Campground (85km/1.5hrs – some poorly maintained dirt road, 2WD ok though).
We’ll ride from Mt Clear Campground to Horse Gully Hut – about 8km. We’ll set up camp, stay there overnight and in the morning if we’re feeling spritely we might head up to Mt Clear (some hike-a-bike), or just head back to town and to Wilbur’s for breakfast.
What to bring:
You’ll need to bring, on your bike, equipment for:
- sleeping (tent/bivvy/tarp, mat, sleeping bag)
- cooking (stove, pot)
- staying warm (warm clothes, thick socks, beanie, rain jacket)
- repairing your bike (tubes, tools)
- toiletries (toilet paper, toothbrush)
as well as food, water (2-3 litres) and sports drinks (frosty or otherwise).
Because the ride is only 8km you can easily carry all of this in a backpack if you don’t have racks or bags on your bike. If your tent fails or fails to be ready to hand the hut can be used for shelter, and a fire for cooking.
If you have any specific questions about gear, ask in the comments for this post, the facebook group or via email.
Stay chipper
Adam
____________
I’ve been keen for a while to get on down to the Mt Clear area for a cruisey overnighter. Mt Clear campground is the most remote campground in the ACT, and it seems seldom visited by earth humans. There’s a potential loop ride, taking in the Mt Clear summit and Horse Gully Hut. It’s described here by Pedal Power. Former CORC Prez Steve Hanly rode to Mt Clear in 2007 and, by ways of the internet superhighway, you can see some pics here.Splitting the loop by camping at Horse Gully Hut would make it an ideal cruisey overnighter, suitable for beginners and those partial to a muscat around a campfire. Most of the climbing (to Mt Clear) could be done on the first afternoon.
This ride will be on the 18-19 February, and open to members only. If you’re tentatively interested lob an email to canberraonegear@gmail.com or comment on this post. More details in the coming weeks.
Yours in singlespeededness
Dear Leader Basiljet
Inside Horse Gully Hut – Photo By Warren
on the Bushwalk.com forums
SHOW AND SHINE
8 Jan 2012
The COGS show and shine, the first event in the COGS January Month of Singlespeed, was superb. Thanks to Ben for organising and posting his pics here.
COGS Presents: January – Month of Singlespeed
5 Dec 2011
Get into the COGSMOS
Show and Shine – Sunday Jan 8
The COGS Show and Shine is your excuse to bust out that vintage 10 speed or meticulously colour coordinated fixie and come down to Lenox Gardens near the lake for a BBQ and a few refreshing ales (BYO).
Bring something to stand your bike up with (a tinnie under the pedal works) and $10 for entry and the BBQ (there will be vego options). Prizes will be awarded for:
Vintage
Ladies
Mountain
Road
Fixie
Cyclocross
Entry: $10, members $5
Follow the Leader – Saturday Jan 14
Follow the Leader – a race where the leader chooses the route, and the followers are subject to the leader’s choice until they take the lead. After a set period of time the riders return to the start – first one back wins. This one is thanks to Joel.We will meet here: http://g.co/maps/ucq2e
Entry: $10, members $5
Coopers TT – Saturday Jan 21
Participants will congregate at The Pines, where the official start-finish will be. They will then set out at 30 second intervals onto a mix of single track and fire trail that takes them up, out and around the Mt Ainslie and Mt Majura reserves. Along the way there will be three check in points flavoured green, red and yellow (in that order). Riders cannot proceed past the check until they have finished the requisite beverage…yup this is an adults only event. Upon return to the start-finish line they will be presented with a Vintage, and the clock stops when Mr Coopers is empty.Of course, COGS always encourages responsible consumption of beverages, so the time taken to complete this event will depend on individual approaches to riding, drinking, recovering, riding, drinking, recovering, riding, drinking, recovering, riding, drinking, recovering. You get the picture. We will be in a public area, be sensible about it. Leave your cars at home and leave plenty of time to recover in the afternoon. Speaking of which, there will be a recovery BBQ (exact time and place TBA).Entry to the event is open to all and sundry of legal drinking age.
Cost is a lobster coloured plastic note, which will cover the sports drinks consumed during the event, recovery BBQ and a holiday to the South of France for our Prez Basiljet.
Bonus points (time bonuses) will be awarded to various categories (costume, vintage bikes, 2:1 gear ratios – the date being 21 in the month of 1, and whatever other reasons the BOM of COGS come up with).
Entry: $20
Beer League - Sunday Jan 29
Beer league is a gruelling on road time trial over 2.6 nautical miles with 4 frosty sports drinks for refreshment before the finish. We will retire to a suitable place for a BBQ after the event.
Entry $20, members $10 (includes sports drinks for the event and the post event BBQ)
Entry to all events will open in the next two weeks.